Reimbursement for Vestibular Testing

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Anne Shields
6 years ago
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1 for Vestibular Testing

Can Impulse be reimbursed? Yes Answer: There is no specific CPT code for the head impulse test (aka head thrust). For that reason, CPT code 92700 would be the code of choice.

2 Can Impulse be reimbursed? Yes Answer: There is no specific CPT code for the head impulse test (aka head thrust). For that reason, CPT code would be the code of choice. Code is the unspecified otolaryngology procedure that is intended to cover a variety of procedures that do not have their own codes. When this code is billed, a detailed report needs to accompany the invoice to the third party payer with the following pieces of information: An explanation of the presenting sign or symptom that caused one or more of these procedures to be performed for this patient A complete description of what was done and what was found A description of any equipment that was used in the evaluation process and a justification for its necessity A description of your clinical assessment and interpretation of the test outcomes The length of time required to complete the evaluation Included in this report should be sufficient information to justify why these procedures were done in addition to or in place of other diagnostic procedures that have standard CPT codes. It can be billed more than one time per date of service for different procedures (e.g. Impulse and VEMP). However, in order to have the reporting of the code for each procedure respected by the payer, there needs to be a 59 modifier each time it is used to indicate that it is a separate and distinct procedure. If the code is billed over and over again without a modifier, the payer is most likely to roll it into one service and pay it only for one procedure. Anyone who is authorized to report CPT codes can report this code for an unlisted procedure. Current average reimbursement reported is $65

3 Rethink your workflow and Increase the revenue ICS Impulse assists in differential diagnosis as well as a time saving workflow. Include the Impulse and realize vast time savings, increased profit and get more confidence in your diagnosis. Based on a good case history and physical exam (e.g. one minute eye exam), you already have a good idea of the diagnosis in 90% of patients. Drs Charles Stockwell and Kamran Barin Assumptions made for deriving these calculations: Assumption: 5 patients seen per day. Abnormality % of patients with disorder Patients pr. month BPPV 40% 40 Vestibular neuritis 10% 10 Menière s 15% 15 Vestibular migraine 20% 20 Other (SCD, Central, 15% 15 perilyph fistula, etc) Total 100% 100 Experienced audiologist is performing the evaluation. Salary is $70,000* ($34/hr) and does not include cost of benefits *salary based on 3 sites (ASHA 2010, Salary.com, Bureau of Labor statistics ) Equipment is paid for (VNG/ENG and caloric irrigator) Not taking into account allocation for space is based on the 2013 Medicare Fee Schedule Typical VNG/ENG Test Case History Physical Exam Oculomotor Positional Calorics Full Test Time 1.25 hour Cost of time $ $166 Revenue - $ Revenue/15 min $24.75 $ $16.34/test 4=$65.36 Clinics are not getting the full reimbursement for the amount of effort. If you can reduce the number of caloric tests performed, you can gain more revenue for time spent. If you are starting a new clinic, every caloric test results in a loss of $20 per patient. 3

4 Option 1: Modifying your existing workflow: Best for the patient and increase revenue Gain an additional ~$2512 in revenue per month and obtain ~31 hours of time back per month. This time can be used for increasing the throughput of vestibular patients or spending time on more profitable endeavors. Suspected BPPV* Case History Physical Exam Oculomotor Dix-Hallpike Time 30 mins Cost of time $17 - $ Revenue - $83.75 Revenue/15 min $41.80 $26.89 must have 4 positions Time saved mins = hours a month *Further calculations based on this example Suspected BPPV American Academy of Otolaryngology Guidelines - The panel made strong recommendations that 1) clinicians should diagnose posterior semicircular canal BPPV when vertigo associated with nystagmus is provoked by the Dix-Hallpike Maneuver. The panel made recommendations against 1) radiographic imaging, vestibular testing, or both in patients diagnosed with BPPV, unless the diagnosis is uncertain or there are additional symptoms or signs unrelated to BPPV that warrant testing. Case History Physical Exam Dix-Hallpike Time 15 mins Cost of time $ $26.89 Revenue - $18.39 Revenue/15 min $26.89 must have 4 positions Time saved 1 hour = 40 hours a month Incremental Benefit better patient care

5 Suspected Vestibular Neuritis Case History Physical Exam Spontaneous Impulse VEMP* Time 45 mins Cost of time $ $ Revenue - $ Revenue/15 min - $45.30 $30.29???? $ Time saved 30 mins - 5 hours/month Incremental Benefit more thorough information to make diagnosis Suspected Meniere s Disease Case History Physical Exam Hearing Exam Impulse VEMP $ $69.44???? $ Caloric $16.34/test 4=$65.36 Time 1.25 mins Cost of time $ $ Revenue - $ Revenue/15 min - $50.97 Incremental Benefit more thorough information to make diagnosis *VEMP is not FDA approved 5

6 Suspected Vestibular Migraine This is an exclusion diagnosis Case History Physical Exam Oculomotor Positional $ Impulse VEMP Calories??? $ $16.34/test 4=$65.36 Time 1.25 hour Cost of time $ $ Revenue - $ Revenue/ 15min - $50.93 Incremental Benefit more thorough information to make diagnosis Suspected Central Disorder Case History Physical Exam Oculomotor Impulse $ ??? Impulse is used to rule out peripheral involvement. If peripheral involvement is suspected, consider additional tests (i.e. VEMPs) Time 30 mins Cost of time $17 - $ Revenue - $83.75 Revenue/ 15min - $41.87 Time saved 30 mins 7.5 hours/month

7 Option 1: Opportunity Cost & Incremental Benefit Traditional VNG (assume 5 pts a day) 100 pts x 75 mins x $1.65/min revenue = $12,375 Total 125 hours per month New Workflow BPPV 40 pts x 30 mins x 2.79/min = $3348 VN - 10 pts x 45 mins x 3.02/min = $1359 Meniere s 15 pts x 75 mins x 3.40/min = $3825 V Migraine 20 pts x 75 mins x 3.40/min = $5100 Central 15 pts x 30 mins x 2.79/min = $ Impulse 60 x 15 mins Total hours per month Total - $14, hours of time saved & better patient care 7

8 Option 2: Minimal change for your existing workflow Minimum Change Case History Physical Exam Oculomotor Positional $ Impulse VEMP Calories??? $ Warm Monothermal $16.34/test 2=$32.68 If Monothermal Caloric shows a difference, then perform the 2 Cool calorics. Time 15 min for extra 2 calorics Cost of time $ $32.68 Revenue - $24.18 Revenue/ 15 min - $24.15 Time 1 hour & 15 min Cost of time $ $ Revenue - $ Revenue/min - $44.40 Incremental Benefit more thorough information to make diagnosis Option 2: Opportunity Cost & Incremental Benefit Traditional VNG (assume 5 pts a day) 100 pts x 75 mins x $1.65/min revenue = $12,375 Total 125 hours per month New Workflow 55 patients only need monothermal = $ patients need bithermal = extra $1.088 Total 125 hours per month Total = $13,296 & better patient care +$921 Good medicine better patient care

Benefits of Performing Impulse First Money in your hand do not lose money Better patient care Find abnormalities not identified before Gives you information you never had before Different frequency

9 Benefits of Performing Impulse First Money in your hand do not lose money Better patient care Find abnormalities not identified before Gives you information you never had before Different frequency range than caloric Test all 6 canals Clinical usefulness Determine superior or inferior VN Monitor when administering gentamicin Assess vestibular system bedside Reduce time needed to perform clinical evaluation Spend more time counseling patient See more patients in a day Spend time on more profitable endeavors Initially ahead of the competition Read more about Assessing the Patient with Vestibular Symptoms Assessing the Patient with Vestibular Symptoms 9

10 based on 2013 Medicare Fee Schedule CPT Code Description $ Basic vestibular evaluation, includes spontaneous Nystagmus test with eccentric gaze fixation nystagmus, with recording, positional nystagmus test, minimum of 4 positions, with recording, optokinetic nystagmus test, bidirectional foveal and peripheral stimulation, with recording,a nd oscillating tracking test, with recording $30.29 Spontaneous nystagmus test, including gaze and fixation nystagmus, with recording $26.89 Positional nystagmus test, minimum of 4 positions, With recording $16.34 Caloric vestibular test, each irrigation (binaural, Bithermal stimulation constitutes 4 tests), with recording $39.14 Pure tone audiometry (threshold); air and bone $24.51 Speech audiometry threshold; $38.46 With speech recognition $37.44 Comprehensive audiometry threshold evaluation and Speech recognition (92553 and combined) $ Auditory evoked potentials for evoked response Audiometry and/or testing of the central nervous system; comprehensive can be used for VEMP;

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12 ICS - the leader in vestibular testing ICS is a leading global provider of diagnostic devices for balance disorders. Founded in 1981, the company has a history of developing ground-breaking products that provide pinpoint accuracy for balance testing. ICS is an expert brand of GN Otometrics. Meet us online to learn more about our thinking, ideas, solutions and the way in which we support you in your endeavours. We re always ready for and welcome a dialogue. facebook.com/otometrics twitter.com/otometrics Scan and learn what people already using the ICS Impulse are saying. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Copyright GN Otometrics. 2013/ EN/01. Part no EN. GN Otometrics, Europe info@gnotometrics.dk GN Otometrics, North America sales@gnotometrics.com

Coding with Confidence:

Coding with Confidence: CPT, HCPCS, Modifiers & ICD-10 Alyssa Needleman, PhD Nova Southeastern University August 4, 2017 Coding Considerations: Procedure (CPT, HCPCs) and Diagnosis (ICD-10) Code for test/procedure(s)